UpClose & Personal - Ralph Stephens

Professionalism is one of the major keys to success in chair massage. One important aspect of professionalism is cleanliness. Many chair therapists only change the paper cover on the face cradle between people. Some don't even use face cradle covers. Often, therapists have no system to clean their hands or equipment. This is a disservice to the public and possibly a threat to the therapist's health. It's time to clean-up chair massage!

Sanitation and hygiene are just as important in chair massage as in table massage. Unfortunately, in chair massage there is usually not time or facilities to wash your hands before and after every person you work on. What can be done to maintain hygiene in the on-site chair situation?

The Chair:

First, the chair should be cleaned between patients. Make a bit of a show out of this, right in front of your patients. It lets them know that you care about their safety and demonstrates your professionalism. There are numerous products to attempt this with. Some of them are very good. Others are little more than a nice gesture. I believe in a product called Sani-Cloths by the PDI Company, available through GoldenRatio.com and good medical supply businesses. These are tested and approved to clean up blood spills at athletic events and are used in hospitals and doctors offices. They eliminate cold (rhinovirus), flu and herpes virus, staphylococcus aurous, salmonella chloeraesuis, pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, as well as tuberculosis and HIV. I use these to clean the face cradle, chest pad, arm rest and knee rests on the chair between each person. NOTE: I also use them in my treatment room to clean my table, face cradle, oil bottles, doorknobs, etc.

The Therapist:

Keeping your hands clean is also important. Since you usually can't wash them regularly when "on-site,” what else can be done? Begin by keeping your fingernails clipped short. This helps prevent the buildup of other peoples’ dead skin cells, foreign materials and bacteria from accumulating under your fingernails. This is important to your health as it can cause an ongoing immune response by your body thus weakening your immune system over time.

After "doing your nails," apply an anti-microbial skin barrier to your hands and forearms. This is a foam or lotion like product that you apply to clean hands (skin). In about four minutes it dries to form an "invisible shield" that prevents the absorption through the skin of just about anything. Since it is also anti-microbial it prevents the spreading around of microbes. The skin barrier protects your hands from them and them from your hands, at least in a hygienic sense.

An additional benefit is that while the product keeps your hands clean and protected it also prevents you from absorbing the chemicals in the Sani-Cloths through your skin. One application remains effective for up to four hours. It does not wash off or go away by washing or using Sani-Cloths. It just deteriorates after giving four hours of protection. It also protects your hands from the drying effects of repeated washings when working in your office, again for up to four hours. Outside of your professional life it is useful to protect you from absorbing other chemicals through your hands like cleaning products, lawn chemicals, and petroleum products. [Editor’s note: SyDERMA™ is an excellent product which kills 99.9% of the bacteria commonly found on the skin with 30 seconds of contact and inhibits their growth for an extended period to time.]

With this "base layer" applied, you can then clean your hands and forearms between patients with Sani-Cloths, waterless hand cleaner, or a "handiwipe" type product. Usually you can clean your hands with the same wipe you use to clean the chair.

Make it a habit:

Continue this cleanliness throughout your entire business. Keep your chair's travel bag clean. Wear clean clothes and footwear. Lack of sanitation is one of the best ways to spread disease. Even the appearance of a lack of cleanliness can ruin your practice. People notice these things, and they tell others. After all, they are entrusting you with their health. Don't let them down. Clean -up you chair massage and you will be more likely to "clean-up" with your chair practice.

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Visit Ralph's website: www.ralphstephens.com

Email Ralph: Ralphing1@aol.com